Blood donors are in extremely short supply, so Krispy Kreme is offering a sweet incentive: Give blood, and get a dozen doughnuts for free.
The American Red Cross declared its first-ever national blood crisis on Jan. 11, saying it was facing the worst blood shortage in more than a decade. Widespread winter storms and rapidly spreading COVID-19 infections, driven by the omicron variant, have resulted in hundreds of canceled blood drives, adding to the decline in donations.
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Krispy Kreme's deal is good through Jan. 30. Anyone who donates blood or platelets can get a complimentary dozen of the chain's Original Glazed doughnuts by either showing their donation sticker or confirmation of their donation from the Red Cross blood donor app.
All types of blood are needed right now, but there is a particularly high demand for O positive and O negative, the Red Cross says. Prospective donors can visit the Red Cross online or call 1-800-733-2767 to find a location and schedule an appointment.
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This is not Krispy Kreme's first health-related promotion. In March 2021, the chain announced a major vaccine promotion, offering a free doughnut every day to customers who presented their COVID-19 vaccination cards. This sugary-sweet promo extended all the way through the end of the year.
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